Colorado University Athletics
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Nate Landman Continues NFL Ascension, Reaches 300-Tackle Milestone
December 17, 2025 | Football
LOS ANGELES – Former Colorado standout Nate Landman is putting together another statement season in the NFL—this time as a centerpiece of the Los Angeles Rams defense.
The fourth-year linebacker has emerged as one of the league's most productive and disruptive defenders, earning national attention, a new contract, and a place on an elite list of former Buffs.
Landman recently became just the 15th former CU player to reach 300 career tackles in the NFL, and only the fifth linebacker to do so, joining a prestigious group that includes Greg Biekert, Chad Brown and Ted Johnson. His production isn't slowing down, either.
Through 14 games this year, Landman leads the Rams with 118 tackles, adding five tackles for loss, six pass breakups, four forced fumbles and an interception—numbers that have rocketed him into the national spotlight and placed him firmly in the Pro Bowl conversation. As of last week, he ranked third among linebackers in fan voting.
With three games left, he already ranks seventh on the list for most tackles by a former CU Buff in the NFL in a season, and he's 31 tackles away from Chad Brown's total of 149 in 1998. He now has two 100-tackle seasons, just two of 16 by former Buffs in the NFL.
He also drew the praise of one of CU's greatest inside linebackers, Barry Remington, a few weeks ago when the program's all-time leading tackler was inducted into the CU Athletic Hall of Fame.
During his speech, Remington singled out Landman, stating, "Looking back at my time at CU, I have so much respect for the great linebackers who have come through the program, (Greg) Biekert, (Matt) Russell … and maybe the best inside linebacker to come through CU is actually playing for the Rams right now, Nate Landman, you should watch that guy, he's fantastic."
Remington's own NFL journey was cut short due to a freakish injury on his right eye suffered prior to this senior season with the Buffaloes. But perhaps one of Remington's favorite moves of Landman is what has put him on the map this season. Landman's NFC Defensive Player of the Week honor came after he punched out a ball as the Houston Texans were driving for a potential game-winning touchdown with less than two minutes left. The Rams held on for a 14-9 win.
Landman's perfected version of that "Peanut Punch" has resulted in four forced fumbles this season, the second-most in the NFL. Over his career, he now boasts 10 forced fumbles, tied for the third most among former NFL Buffs, and he also has 10 pass breakups and two interceptions across 49 games, including 36 starts.
Landman's arrival as a premier defensive playmaker formally crystallized in 2023 during a breakout season with the Atlanta Falcons. But his momentum hasn't stalled since moving west. On Nov. 22, the Rams rewarded his play and leadership with a three-year contract extension reportedly worth $22.5 million, signaling their belief in him as a cornerstone defender.
His production has matched the investment. On top of his Week 1 heroics, Landman later set a personal—and franchise—milestone with a career-best 17 tackles at Baltimore on Oct. 12, the most by any Rams player in a game this century. He followed that up with 14 tackles the following game.
With a growing reputation, a knack for forcing turnovers, and rising fan support, Nate Landman is no longer just a former Buff succeeding at the next level—he's becoming one of the NFL's most respected linebackers. If current trends hold, his breakout may soon be punctuated with the first Pro Bowl selection of his career.
The fourth-year linebacker has emerged as one of the league's most productive and disruptive defenders, earning national attention, a new contract, and a place on an elite list of former Buffs.
Landman recently became just the 15th former CU player to reach 300 career tackles in the NFL, and only the fifth linebacker to do so, joining a prestigious group that includes Greg Biekert, Chad Brown and Ted Johnson. His production isn't slowing down, either.
Through 14 games this year, Landman leads the Rams with 118 tackles, adding five tackles for loss, six pass breakups, four forced fumbles and an interception—numbers that have rocketed him into the national spotlight and placed him firmly in the Pro Bowl conversation. As of last week, he ranked third among linebackers in fan voting.
With three games left, he already ranks seventh on the list for most tackles by a former CU Buff in the NFL in a season, and he's 31 tackles away from Chad Brown's total of 149 in 1998. He now has two 100-tackle seasons, just two of 16 by former Buffs in the NFL.
He also drew the praise of one of CU's greatest inside linebackers, Barry Remington, a few weeks ago when the program's all-time leading tackler was inducted into the CU Athletic Hall of Fame.
During his speech, Remington singled out Landman, stating, "Looking back at my time at CU, I have so much respect for the great linebackers who have come through the program, (Greg) Biekert, (Matt) Russell … and maybe the best inside linebacker to come through CU is actually playing for the Rams right now, Nate Landman, you should watch that guy, he's fantastic."
Remington's own NFL journey was cut short due to a freakish injury on his right eye suffered prior to this senior season with the Buffaloes. But perhaps one of Remington's favorite moves of Landman is what has put him on the map this season. Landman's NFC Defensive Player of the Week honor came after he punched out a ball as the Houston Texans were driving for a potential game-winning touchdown with less than two minutes left. The Rams held on for a 14-9 win.
Landman's perfected version of that "Peanut Punch" has resulted in four forced fumbles this season, the second-most in the NFL. Over his career, he now boasts 10 forced fumbles, tied for the third most among former NFL Buffs, and he also has 10 pass breakups and two interceptions across 49 games, including 36 starts.
Landman's arrival as a premier defensive playmaker formally crystallized in 2023 during a breakout season with the Atlanta Falcons. But his momentum hasn't stalled since moving west. On Nov. 22, the Rams rewarded his play and leadership with a three-year contract extension reportedly worth $22.5 million, signaling their belief in him as a cornerstone defender.
His production has matched the investment. On top of his Week 1 heroics, Landman later set a personal—and franchise—milestone with a career-best 17 tackles at Baltimore on Oct. 12, the most by any Rams player in a game this century. He followed that up with 14 tackles the following game.
With a growing reputation, a knack for forcing turnovers, and rising fan support, Nate Landman is no longer just a former Buff succeeding at the next level—he's becoming one of the NFL's most respected linebackers. If current trends hold, his breakout may soon be punctuated with the first Pro Bowl selection of his career.
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